Words

Indak, A Poem

written by Stef

Indak is part of my daughter’s plate in school. They had an activity at school wherein they needed to prepare a Zine. A zine (/ziːn/ ZEEN; short for magazine or fanzine) is a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced via photocopier. (source: Wikipedia)

She searched for references and came up with different drawings. One of which is that featured image. In each image, a description, experience, or story is required. She thought of including something about dancing and love.

10/08/2020 0 comment

Words

5 Things a Simple SMILE can do

written by Stef

You have heard that “Laughter is the best medicine!” but did you ever wonder why?
You must have already found the answer from Google or from a medical book maybe.

To be honest, since I have had dentures years back, I feel awkward when I smile. So, when I give a polite type of smile, I also let my eyes work – a wink, a smiling eyes or a quick raise of the eyebrows.

When I became a mom, I realized that I should be more giving – of happy smiles. My daughters would gladly smile at me with zero hesitation at all. So, being the mom, I had let go of that awkwardness or consciousness (because of the dentures) and give back a smile to them. I have read that there were different types of smile. I even practice in front of the bathroom mirror. I saw my younger daughter did that too back when she was just three, I had to capture it in a video. She cringed every time I show it to her and we all just end up laughing.

So smiling really has benefits. And you may find a lot more things a smile can do to yourself or to someone.

5 Things a Simple SMILE can do

TOP 5 REASONS TO SMILE

1. A SMILE is contagious.
2. “Every time you smile, it is an act of love – a gift …” ~Mother Teresa
3. We are all rich of smiles, be generous! It warms someone’s heart and can touch and enrich the ones who receive it. Plus factor is it won’t cost you a thing.
4. A genuine smile is an asset! It attracts attention and promotion. It brings out an aura of confidence and positiveness which people find to be attractive.
5. Smiling is a stress-reliever! You are more relaxed when smiling. And because of its stress-relieving property, your immune system is strengthened and thus, smiling can actually prevent colds, lower your heart rate and blood pressure.

smile

So do not frown. Do something good to yourself and better things will happen to you!

27/01/2020 0 comment

Family Words

Life Contentment Tips For The Millennial and For Parents

written by Stef

A mom friend shared a note in Facebook, a life contentment tips list. That list has inspired me. I ended up picking a few from the list she shared and added a few of my own and came up with this contentment tips. Some may say that they have read that from somewhere already, that is great then. Here is another reminder. This may also serve as a short list of life hacks that the millennial babies and young parents can consider.

Ensure your kids attend a good, affordable school (expensive schools doesn’t guarantee good results).
Have time and give your kids good training at home.
Rent apartments you can pay for conveniently, not in a house you struggle to pay yearly. That is another source of family worries and stress. For couples, if financial matters don’t tear you down, it might break your marriage.
Some problems in our lives don’t just pop up, some are caused of over-thinking. Stay away from negative thoughts.
Live within your means. Save more and spend less. Don’t follow trends, wear clean, well-ironed clothes and keep your hair neat.
Smile. Eat healthy meals. Exercise.
When buying a car buy one that is fuel efficient and corresponds with your salary. All you need is a means of convenient and reliable transportation. And make sure you have your own parking space or have rented one.
Have integrity. Be industrious.
Empathize. Learn to share and care.
Pay it forward.
Hug people you care. Hug just because.
Life is a step after the other. Keep a positive attitude and outlook in life. Even if the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, keep to your own side; it’s where you belong. There you can plant your own grass and tend to it. Comparison is the thief of joy.
Above all things, pray and have strong faith in God.

I am giving credits to the original post of this Life Contentment Tips I have shared, I just have no info of the owner. Let us all share good things and believe in the ripple effect of kind gestures.

Live.

Laugh.

Love.

12/11/2018 0 comment

Words

The LIFE That You Want

written by Stef

We all go through a phase in life where you are wanting something you cannot really name or have a hard time determining what. Then you hear and read words that are not really in the encouragement category and may not really be pointed or thrown at you but affects you so much and breaks your heart a lot more. That confusing feeling that somehow stresses you out because it keeps bothering you day and night. Then this confusion causes depression and then makes you feel that you have become a little crazy that you find yourself crying over the littlest of things. Well, we all are, crazy. At some point, end of last year and early this year, I somehow have gone through this phase. I think I have been coward to go for what I really want for a long time. It doesn’t mean that I opted for something I do not want and something that is not right though. It just came to a point that I came to realize that there is a gap within me – a blank space I needed to fill in with something beautiful maybe. Something happy. Something warm. Something brighter. And that something will sure allow me to go further, fulfill dreams and help me a lot to become the better version of what I opted to do and be at the past and of course, be the best version of me for the future. And at the end of it all, this big step I took is not really about me after all… but for the people I love most. We are all like plants that needed water and sunlight to be at our best and give either fruit or flowers to the people around us. Sometimes you (the plant) can even give both flowers and fruits, and even more.

I came to realize that this quote/phrase from Eckhart Tolle I have read sometime ago is indeed true. I would like to share it with you too.

There are times that stress is also cause by not “wanting to be there” but also by over thinking. By being so negative by some thing or someone new to you even if you have not given it a try or chance to prove its worth.

LIFE is a battle for some, a game of gamble for some and even like a wheel of fortune for others. No matter how you look at it, no matter how you go with the flow, no matter how take it…we all are going for the life that we want.

*credits to the image owner

14/03/2015 0 comment

People Words

5 Day Gratitude Challenge

written by Stef

I was tagged by a dear friend, Joy of JoyRide for a Gratitude Challenge and so I decided to create a 2-in-1 post.

Sept. 14 Gratitude Challenge entry

I am grateful for..

– the person who found Nhald’s wallet. Our faith in humanity is still there because of him/them.
– the ability to recognize something good out of an obvious mistake. We got the chance to go out together as partners, it was quite an adventure.
– the simple fact that my kids’ have the ability to take care of each other while Mom & Dad is out.

Gratitude Challenge

Sept. 15 Gratitude Challenge entry

– an additional rest day for the kids and that Malacañang initiated the suspension of classes as early as last night because of Thypoon Luis.
– my awesome Upwork clients for the trust they have given me.
– my daughter K’s achievement for the 1st grading period.

I have this posted on my Facebook account, but since we are promoting something really good here, it is best to share it in this blog too. So, if you were tagged by a friend, be it on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or through blogs and other social media platforms, go ahead and join in. You will be surprised as to how much there is to really be thankful for instead of wasting our time with all the what-if’s and I should have’s in mind.

Have a great day everyone!

15/09/2014 0 comment

Events Family Words

Feast of The Divine Mercy

written by Stef

Today, I got up a little late for the Sunday mass on TV. Still, I decided to start my day with the mass. I missed about 80% of the mass but really learned something great. There, I found out that today is The Divine Mercy Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter.

When I was a still a kid, I remember that my Grandmother (who was then a member of The Catholic Women’s League) would always encourage me and my cousins to come with her to church and attend the mass and even join processions. Now, I have realized that the procession that happens every Sunday after Easter is for the feast of The Divine Mercy.

I have then made a little research about the Divine Mercy Sunday and I am glad I did because today is also a special and blessed day for all the Catholics in the world. Popes John XXIII and John Paul II will be canonized today. The canonization of the two former Popes will be presided by Pope Francis during a Mass at the St. Peter’s Square. Huge crowd has poured in Rome as this is yet another global media event to look forward to.

Everything that follows herewith are the information I got from Wiki:

Divine Mercy Sunday is originally based on the Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy that Saint Faustina Kowalska reported as part of her encounter with Jesus, and is associated with special promises from Jesus and indulgences issued by the Church.

Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun reported visions and visitations from Jesus and conversations with Him. He asked her to paint the vision of his Merciful Divinity being poured from his sacred heart and specifically asked for a feast of Divine Mercy to be established on the first Sunday after Easter so mankind would take refuge in Him:

“I want the image solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it.” (Jesus’ words, Diary 341)

The first Divine Mercy painting by Kazimierowski (1934) at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary / Author=Alma Pater

“Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to our neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to absolve yourself from it.” (Diary 742)

The devotion was actively promoted by Pope John Paul II who, On 30 April 2000, canonized Faustina Kowalska, and officially designated the Sunday after Easter as the Sunday of the Divine Mercy in the General Roman Calendar.

A year after establishing Divine Mercy Sunday, on April 22, 2001 Pope John Paul II re-emphasized its message in the resurrection context of Easter:

Jesus said to Sr Faustina one day: “Humanity will never find peace until it turns with trust to Divine Mercy”. Divine Mercy! This is the Easter gift that the Church receives from the risen Christ and offers to humanity.

The devotion to Divine Mercy Sunday grew rapidly after its designation by Pope John Paul II and is now widely celebrated by Catholics.

27/04/2014 0 comment

People Words

The Beautiful Cup

written by Stef

We all have complaints every now and then.

But then, there are moments you realize it on your own (or with a help of a loved one or a friend) that good things always outweigh the bad. That is when we realize that blessings are all over us, in different forms and sizes, senses and uses. And just like cups, we have to let the beauty of these blessings come out. So, we can share and be a blessing to another.

And at the end of the day, everything just proves that GOD is so amazing!

*Photo from Pinterest

09/04/2014 0 comment

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